Meditation for Millennials

Meditation Inspiration
Serving Bodhi Meditation Practitioners throughout NY Metro Area
Bi-Weekly Inspiration
“If anything is worth doing, do it with all
your heart.”
~ The Buddha
Zen Living
‘Rebranding’ Meditation for Millennials
By Lizzie Simon, The Wall Street Journal June 18, 2015
Vol. 5, Issue 19, September 15, 2015
Watkins, a Los Angeles-based meditation teacher
and author of “The Inner Gym.”
In December 2014, he formed the Medi Club, a
collective of several hundred young New Yorkers,
predominantly entrepreneurs and creatives in
fashion, entertainment and technology. Once a
month, they gather to meditate and talk about
work, relationships, sex and other facets of life.
“Millennials are hungry to talk about personal
growth,” Mr. Israel said.
At a recent gathering, more than 50 attractive and
stylish people in their 20s and early 30s arrived
and set their chic shoes and handbags at the door.
Organizer Jesse Israel, left, meditates with the Medi Club.
Photo: Andrew Hinderaker for The Wall Street Journal
This year’s SummerStage series presented an
eclectic range of musical performances in 16 city
parks. This year, for the first time was a sonic
experience rare for New York City: silence.
“The Big Quiet,” a free event that took place in
Central Park’s Rumsey Playfield, allowed New
Yorkers to partake in a 20-minute group
meditation followed by a concert and party.
Mr. Israel, who was born and raised in Los
Angeles and came East to attend New York
University, was introduced to meditation four
years ago at Chelsea’s Shambhala Meditation
Center of New York, and later studied with Light
American Bodhi Meditation Society
Mr. Israel sat facing a half-circle of members
extolling the benefits of meditating together—
specifically that the intimacy and vulnerability
created had a way of making people more
grounded and open. “We may be more
empathetic with our roommates, our partners, our
parents. We may be more mindful and relaxed if
we have sex tonight. We may be more conscious
when we send emails or post images on
Instagram,” he said. Then they sat together, eyes
closed, cell phones silenced for 20 minutes.
Tibet House U.S., the Cultural Center of the
Dalai Lama, has been hosting weekly meditation
classes since 1997, with different teachers
emphasizing different styles. Executive Director
Ganden Thurman said, “Maybe life in general is
spiritual. Getting in touch with yourself is
probably inherently spiritual.”
Read more here.
www.bodhimeditationsociety.org
Practitioner’s Corner
Meaning, Sought and Found
By Chloe See Toh, Singapore
Before finding Bodhi Meditation, I was working in
the banking and finance industry. As a 25-year-old
woman, I seemed to have everything going for me
— a rewarding career, a comfortable lifestyle and
wonderful friends. But there was something missing.
My aunt recommended Bodhi Meditation, so I
signed up for an eight-day Bodhi Meditation
Retreat. The first three days were unpleasant, as I
found it difficult to be still for such long hours. I felt
happiness as Master stood before us. I realized that
I needed to create more meaning in my life.
I committed to volunteering at the Bodhi
Meditation Center. I was a leader of a group of
young people with the Mind Leap Program. The
more I volunteered the more cheerful, joyful and
compassionate I felt.
On top of that, my meditation practice has resolved
my acne. While volunteering and practicing Bodhi
Meditation, I was too busy to get expensive and
ineffective facials, but my acne disappeared. I
believe that my practice caused a change in my
state of mind, which in turn transformed my skin.
Read more practitioners’ stories here .
Upcoming classes
Queens Meditation Center
Bodhi Meditation 8-day Health and
Happiness Retreat Time: 9/19/15 – 9/26/15,
9:30am – 6:30 pm
Location: 131-27 Fowler Ave, Flushing NY 11355
Contact: 718-886-1122, [email protected] better as the retreat progressed, inspired by the
enriching and engaging class content. The
teachings of Master JinBodhi were particularly
inspiring. Master guided us to apply compassion
and gratitude in everything that we do, from our
initial intentions and thoughts to our actions. On
top of that, I was touched when Master Guan-Shan
guided us to show gratitude toward our parents and
repent wrong doings. The Meditation of Greater
Illumination and prostration practice led me to find
contentment with what I have; I've discovered a
sense of joy and peace, for which I am grateful.
Westchester Energy Bagua (Walking Meditation) Time: Sunday 10:00 am - 12:00pm
Location: White Plains High School, 550 North
Street, White Plains, NY 10605
Contact: Jianyang Rong, [email protected]
Long Island Monday Bodhi Meditation Class
Time: Every Monday night,
7:30 pm – 9:00 pm
Location: Freeport Recreation Center Event
130 E. Merrick Rd. Freeport, NY 11520
Contact: Nan Gilbert, [email protected]
Click here for more classes and events.
When Master JinBodhi visited us the seventh day, I
felt tremendous energy and compassion as he
entered the hall, and then felt gratitude and
American Bodhi Meditation Society
www.bodhimeditationsociety.org